Midnight Mayhem tips off men's basketball season

KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan University men's basketball
program will tip off the final season of the century with a Midnight
Mayhem celebration on Friday night (Oct. 15).

The fourth-annual event will be held at University Arena. Doors
open at 11 p.m. and admission is free.

The program includes numerous giveaways, highlighted by the
opportunity for a Western Michigan student to win $10,000 in the
Papa John's Shootout. The selected contestant must make a lay-up,
free throw, 3-pointer and half court shot in 25 seconds to claim
the top prize. A lay-up made nets a free pizza while a made free
throw earns a free pizza a week for the rest of the semester.
If the contestant makes a 3-pointer, he/she receives $500 toward
tuition or books.

Also scheduled to perform are the Western Michigan Pep Band,
Cheer Team and Dance Team. The 2000 edition of the Bronco women's
gymnastics program will give a short exhibition and women's basketball
coach Ron Stewart will introduce his 1999-2000 Broncos to the
fans.

The WMU men's squad is slated to compete in a dunk contest
before holding a 10-minute scrimmage just prior to the Papa John's
Shootout.

The latest edition of the Bronco men's team features All-Mid-American
Conference candidate Tony Barksdale. Six newcomers have arrived
in Kalamazoo, giving WMU a good mix of talented young players
and experienced veterans for the 1999-2000 campaign.

"The benefits of Midnight Mayhem are twofold," Donewald
said. "It allows us an opportunity to introduce our players
to the fans as well as providing the first chance for our players
to perform in front of a crowd."

The midnight tip-off to the season has been made popular in
recent years by ESPN and signals the first official day (Oct.
16) all NCAA Division I basketball programs may begin preseason
practice.